"It was time" Paul Hook

1. What inspired you to transition from military to civilian life, and how did you prepare for this significant change?

My inspiration is three-fold:

1. It was time. 25 years was enough for me and I could leave on my own terms with a pension to give me enough financial security to find something else to define my future years.

2. The desire to find new employment that would help me pay down a large mortgage that I took because I moved back to Canada in 2022 and the military didn’t offer me much in the way of military housing for a family of 2 adults and 2 teenagers.

3. The excitement to see what I could do when I grew up. Could I find something new that I could apply my skillsets, learned from years in leadership positions in the Army, too. My preparation included discussions with: others that had retired (including my twin brother), my family, my boss. I read the literature, looked at the toolkit the military had for transition and then I made the leap.

2. Could you describe your current role in civilian life and how you arrived at this path?

I am the managing director for the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR). It is based in Queen’s University, in Kingston, Ontario where I retired. My current role is much like a chief of staff in the military. I work with the Scientific Director to hone the strategy for future years, oversee HR, budget, staff meetings, and I ensure harmony amongst the staff, the sharing of knowledge, and I liaise with our vast network of partners, affiliates and interested parties.

3. During your transition, what obstacles did you encounter, and what strategies proved instrumental in overcoming them?

I hate to say this, but the only obstacle I encountered was my self-confidence in putting myself into competition for a job in the civilian world. I had support from my wife and kids, I had a plan, and the CAF transition tools ensured that my move out of uniform was great.

4. In what ways have your military skills and experiences been an asset in your civilian career?

As an Armoured Officer, you have to think on your feet, act like the boss at all times, be humble when you realize that you’re out of your depth, and to seek and accept help when you need it. Also, having led people throughout my career, and received training at every rank, I had the confidence to manage and lead people through anything.

5. Are there any resources, networks, or strategies you found invaluable during your transition that you’d recommend to others?

Peers. My brother retired a while ago and gave me advice on job interviews. I also keep in touch with a great American fight pilot, who also recently retired. Outside of that, people like you, Caleb, and hundreds of others have created such a safety net, that I believe every military member has a great opportunity to learn from those who went before them. I recently joined 3V to being networking and hope to offer my experience to those seeking to transition in the near future.

6. Reflecting on your transition, what piece of knowledge or advice do you wish had been shared with you beforehand?

That our value to society and to private industry is immense. That the world is waiting for people like me to retire so that they can be scooped up by companies. Our drive, our determination, and our inability to say no makes us succeed in anything.

7. How did you navigate the shift in identity from being in the military to reintegrating into civilian life, and what helped you through this process?

I have lots of hobbies – hunting, fishing, and writing. I recently published my second fiction book. Having something that provides me an identity other than being an officer in the Army enabled me to make the shift.

8. What aspects of military life do you find yourself missing the most, and how do you keep those memories alive?

That’s easy – the people, the camaraderie, and the laughter. Humour in the army is something that I don’t think I’ll ever see in a civilian job. The shared experiences, hardships, and sheer amount of time that I’ve shared with my military colleagues cannot be replicated.